Photo Dump

I got asked why I always wear dark clothing and was it a "gothy" reason. Nope I just have always liked darker colors. Even when I am not wearing black, navy, or grey I go toward the jewel tones. 

This is why people in the Midwest deal with crappy winters... 

I saw this at Wal-Mart ... I WILL go get one for my office. Everyone needs a 2 and a half foot tall Darth Vader! 

I went to pick up some new supplements and saw this... I will admit to laughing like a boy in 4th grade who's teacher just "pooted" at the blackboard.

This is what I picked up to see if it helps my knees better than the glucoseamine - so far YES it does. Side benefit - my skin is also seriously benefiting.

This is the back of my couch - He is slowing killing that cushion.. Though as I was told on Facebook by a friend - I won't think about that couch once it is gone.. Just my baby on it.. She's right which is how it's easier to ignore the leg of the couch he has shredded as well.. 

Mostly clean eating! 

New Challenge

Sorry this is so late today, its been a busy day so far.. Happy Halloween!!

My Father in law is still in the hospital - he had a filter inserted above the clot today. This allows the blood to flow but stops the clot in case it breaks free. Still saying prayers around here..

The sun is finally out after its rained all day yesterday and most of today.. so not a fan of drizzly, grey days. They are so depressing, I would never want to live in Seattle just for that reason.

Can I just say I can't believe tomorrow is November 1st .. SAY WHAT - already?? Don't blink Thanksgiving is almost here.. and the holiday season. Thing about that holiday season - it generally bites most of us in the ass then adds a few pounds to it!

It doesn't have to - in fact I lost weight last year during the holidays.  In an effort to do it again this year a few friends of mine and I are starting a holiday challenge. Novembers challenge will be Jillian's Ripped in 30 and clean(er) eating for the most part. Thanksgiving is a cheat day if you so desire..

My goal for this November is to lose a few and tone up while I clean up my diet. I started using My Fitness Pal again to just keep track of it all and make sure I am staying on the rails.  I did however put the scale away. When you first change up your workouts you can appear to put on weight because your muscles are holding on to water to protect them from the "damage" you are doing to them. That freaks/discourages people and the stop what they are doing with the thinking "it doesn't matter anyway I now weight MORE and look I was TRYING this time.

KEEP GOING at about the 3 week mark your muscles release the water and the change in number is rapid! It really is just a number folks - your pants tell the true story!!

Get Back UP

Its never to late to Get Back UP - lately I have been eating what I want still in moderation but no where near clean or healthy and the gym has been a distant memory.. Biggest Loser started its new season last night and I am kick starting the healthy again myself.  I have more energy when I am kind to myself by being conscious of what I am putting in my mouth and by moving my body.

While I haven't gained anything major I have lost some of the tone I had worked to get... UGGGGGG I HATE starting over and yet here I am starting over again... Good thing is its never to late to reboot or even reload your OS (sorry geek talk spilling out).

I have had the same excuses everyone else does - to tired to busy to many responsibilities to deal with it right now.  Here's the deal ... Yes I am busy, yes I have a lot going on BUT I owe myself the same consideration and dedication I'd give to anyone, in fact I owe myself more.  I deserve to be healthy, feel amazing and even look good. Yes I OWE myself all of that. Frankly so do you. You owe it to yourself to get off your couch and move to watch what your putting in your body and even how you spend your time.

So what nice things have you done for YOU?

Good food - Bad Food - Set meals - Grazing... What IS the answer??

Is it any wonder everyone is confused on the "formula or Secret" to losing weight and getting fit? It seems like every day there is another study out that disproves something we were told was "the" way to to do it just a year or so ago. The latest - Milk is bad for your bones - no shit that is the latest word.

There is NO secret - its basic math calories in, calories out (expended). 3500 calories make up 1 lb its your choice if its coming or going.

I do like that Shape magazine has an article on the myths and fads of dieting.
(http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-strategies/10-unbelievable-diet-rules-backed-science#080713) I am not a breakfast eater never have been, probably never will be. I'm sure that next year something else will come out and say the opposite of this article, but for now I am glad to see that I am not "killing" my metabolism by skipping the Grape Nuts (ewww).

Honestly you have to figure out what works for you and go with it. What my "key" to it all may not be your key. I have learned I can't just eat 1200 calories a day and be productive much less nice.  I can't label foods good or bad - as soon as I do I abscess about the "bad" food list until that is ALL that I want. For me food is food, now some of it I can eat more than something else.

I've also learned the scale is NOT a good indicator of where I am at - my jeans are.. Since I am working on sculpting muscles the scale isn't helpful - the tape measure and how things fit are a better indicator of progress for me.

Yes you will have ups and downs and yes you will find that something that worked at the start of your journey doesn't in the middle. Things are always evolving, but generally you have to try something and see if it works for you - someone else go to formula just may not be yours.

Randoms

 July has hit Kansas City with a vengeance. Today's high is 97 with a heat index of 103 - though I will take that over 20 degrees and 2 feet of snow any day!

This week we started Eating Clean. We are going with that whole 80/20 theory. 80% of the time we will be eating clean and 20% we can splurge.

Last night I made a Chicken Chop Salad that was awesome. I was hesitant going in because there are sweet potatoes in it. I am not a huge fan - though I will say its probably because growing up I though they only came out of cans, were baked to an inch of their life and had marshmallows burnt on top of them ;-)

Everything in that is clean, even the dressing which I made from scratch. It was even better this afternoon for lunch at work. 

Tonight we are doing Cheese Ravioli in a bell pepper sauce.

In the last 2 week both D and I got new phones after ours gave up the good fight and begged to be retired. Since then we have both had voicemail issues which no one can figure out. D's off today so he is headed into the store to see if he can figure out whats what. I will say thankfully mine are still coming to the phone. My visual voicemail just won't work. D's voicemail is so broken that he gets a message that his box doesn't even exist.

I have a random bruise that showed up on the top of my hand, no earthly clue what I banged into I just know its sore as hell.

This song is stuck in my head - has been for 3 days now.. I'm still trying to get past the fact Alan Thicke is his dad....

Looking forward to hitting the gym after work tonight... 

How is your Tuesday???